Sarah McLachlan makes herself at home at Artpark

McLachlan's appearance at Artpark
was no insignificant happening. In fact, I'd liken it to Pope Francis giving
Mass at St. Peter's, or President Obama presiding over a Village Board meeting.

You say hyperbole. I say Western
New York loves -- loves -- Sarah McLachlan.

The Lilith Fair founder, Academy
Awards performer, founder of The Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver, and Grammy-winning songwriter behind a dozen-plus hit singles could've
sold-out any venue in Buffalo or Niagara Falls. How cool was it that she chose
Lewiston instead?

To watch McLachlan at Artpark, on a
beautiful summer night, was a treat.

Prior to the concert, a male fan
(there were plenty) came up to me and said he's seen McLachlan perform on
several occasions. He promised two things: Sarah will hit every note in every
song, and the audience will be mesmerized.

Both assurances proved true.
McLachlan was spot-on during the course of two sets, singing and alternating
between guitar, piano and banjo on more than two-dozen songs. Hers is a rare
talent treasured around the world, and especially here in Western New York.

McLachlan came on stage shortly
after 8 p.m., and told the audience her goal was to unite everyone in song,
regardless of seat, section or lawn spot. She said her show would consist of
new songs -- tracks from the recently released "Shine On" -- as well as plenty of
familiar favorites.

The stage was decorated as if the
audience had entered a high-class nightclub or jazz lounge, and featured a
couch where lucky social media contest winners were afforded the opportunity to
sit, mingle with McLachlan, and take a selfie, or two.

Those in the audience, meanwhile,
gave McLachlan their complete and undivided attention. Nary a fidgeter, text
messenger or "chatty Cathy" could be found.

It was a remarkable sight.

McLachlan explained the past few
years offered plenty of trials, as well as some unexpected moments of joy. She
said "Shine On" represents her gratitude toward family, friends and fans
who stood by her when she was blue.

The first set featured new songs
"Flesh and Blood," "In Your Shoes," "Monsters" and "Broken Heart," as well as
classics "Adia," "World on Fire" and "Stupid."

In between songs, McLachlan said she
strives to create positive social change in the world through kindness and
empathy.

Interestingly, whether McLachlan
was singing a new song or a hit she's performed thousands of times, she seemed
genuinely happy, and often thanked the crowd of about 4,000 for its vigorous
rounds of applause.

Toward the end of the first set,
McLachlan took submitted audience questions via a black top hat on her piano. One
5-year-old boy asked if she had swum with dolphins. McLachlan has, once finding
herself immersed in mammals on a trip to Mexico.

"Have you swam with dolphins?"
McLachlan asked the boy, who was sitting about 20 rows from the stage. "It's
really fun."

It was really cute.

McLachlan told concertgoers, "I
love that I get to sing for people every night. It's awesome."

She said touring has become a
little trickier since she turned 40, but the accompaniment of her two young
children helps.

McLachlan explained songs of heartbreak
are easier to write -- and she's penned plenty. She joked she would sprinkle in a
handful of upbeat love songs to keep fans from becoming depressed.

After a 25-minute break, the
second set began with a song McLachlan dedicated to her late dad, "Song For My
Father," as well as "Brink of Destruction," which, despite its title, was offered
as an ode to her new boyfriend.

McLachlan took a second round of
questions and told the audience, "I love what I do. I love making music. ... I'm
the luckiest girl in the world."

She said she has no regrets -- "I
wouldn't change a thing" -- and took a trip down memory lane with songs "Fumbling
Towards Ecstasy," "Fear," "Sweet Surrender" and "Possession."

Following a short stage departure,
McLachlan returned for a four-song encore, which featured new songs "Beautiful
Girl" (created to inspire her children) and an upbeat "The Sound That Love
Makes," as well as her hit "Angel."

The audience was delighted when McLachlan performed "Ice
Cream." She asked the crowd to help sing the lyrics with her and her band, noting it was a point in the night when her voice was weakened. Of course, this is Sarah
McLachlan we're talking about, so that description was just a modest lie.

If anything, McLachlan's voice seemed to improve as the show went on, much to the appreciation of her fans, who were noticeably blissful throughout the night.